Mortgage rates are at least a half-point lower than one year ago. According to Freddie Mac, the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose five basis points this week to 6.22% — 57 basis points lower than one year ago. The 15-year rate was up nine basis points to 5.50%, a half-point lower than last year at this time. "This week the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.22%," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. "On a median-priced home, this could allow a homebuyer to save thousands ann ...